Need fairway club advice

[littlefish]

I had the same issue and filled the gap with a Callaway Big Bretha 3W (stock stiff shaft). Works great and the bigger head works good as short driver too (i.e. almost as large as the old drivers were).

[La Costa Golfer]

http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=7144

The question was "is it worth the extra $$$" to buy a R7.

I recommended the TM V Steel not because it is on clearance. Rather because of the playability. It just so happen to be selling for below $99. In my opinion....the V Steel is one of the finest fairway woods ever made. Easy to hit, can shape shots, easy to align, sits on the turf square, gets through all kinds of turf and lies, distance, control, you name it. I have borrowed a friends R7 and it didn't compare. Only other fairway wood that compares is the Callaway Steelhead....however you can't buy them new anymore.

[andre112]

I really like my v-steel 3 wood as well.
only if i have a consistant swing...

[marpr]

I really like my v-steel 3 wood as well.

The question was "is it worth the extra $$$" to buy a R7.

i have to agree with you guys there, The V-steel is probably the best value for money fairway woods on the market.

[tradewind_golfer]

With an index of 36, I would suggest trying an 18* 5W, a lot easier to hit than a 3W and distance will still be quite good.

Totally agree. Get a 19* 5-wood, try something titanium with a graphite shaft if you want more distance. The 5-wood is MUCH easier to hit off a variety of lies than the 3-wood and may go as far due to better launch...

[bwgolfer]

If it were me I would try to find a demo event and try a 15* 3wood. See if it feels like you have as good a feel with it as compaired to your utility. The 15* would be a nice fit between the 10.5 driver and the 19* utility, about 4 degrees each way. Plus a 15* is a little eazyer to get in the air than a 13* or a 15* strong....bwgolfer

[fusioncal]

Since you guys value V-Steel so much, did you know that TaylorMade (Japan) is going to launch the new V-Steel in January 2008? Here's the source and video.

[La Costa Golfer]

Totally agree. Get a 19* 5-wood, try something titanium with a graphite shaft if you want more distance. The 5-wood is MUCH easier to hit off a variety of lies than the 3-wood and may go as far due to better launch...

While a 5W is generally easier to hit with the higher loft...one benefit of carrying a 3W is the versatility for tee shots. If you are on a tight long par4, 5W generally won't give you enough of a first shot. Also many are now carrying hybrids in place of 5Ws for the distance gap and where the lie is less than perfect.

Also...the V-Steel 3W is a smaller head compared to many on the market...almost the same size many other 5W heads. That makes it pretty darn easy to hit off the turf. If buying the V-Steel..and at its current price at tgw.com...heck...I would buy both a 3W and 5W.

[ryns2]

Also...the V-Steel 3W is a smaller head compared to many on the market...almost the same size many other 5W heads. That makes it pretty darn easy to hit off the turf.

Thanks for all the feedback, I will be heading to TGW in a few days to try out several 3 woods with 15* loft (their headquarters are in Wichita).

The one thing that I don't like about fairway woods is the smaller head size combined with the long shaft seems like a bad combination for a high handicap golfer (more mis hits). Where as a hybrid has the smaller head but a shorter shaft, but I guess the longer shaft on the FW will give you more distance than the hybrid of the same loft. So I will definitely try the TM V-Steel but I will also look at some FW with larger head sizes.

[andre112]

a while ago i read up someone put in a 3 wood shaft into a 5 wood head with pretty good result.
higher loft: easier to launch
longer shaft: more distance
seems to make sense

[neudi]

If you can hit a 3 wood get it...otherwise you might think about possible a 4 wood which is in between the 3 and 5 obviously and helps get the ball up a little bit more. I would get an adams fairway wood as well though.

[offdacrossbar]

With an index of 36, I would suggest trying an 18* 5W, a lot easier to hit than a 3W and distance will still be quite good.

simply outstanding advice. agree completely. 5w is a good choice for exactly your reasons. i carry both a 3wd and 5wd. 3wd off the tee when driver wont work and the 5w as an attack club on short par 5s. i hit the 5 much higher and thus i can get it close to pins. all my eagles are nothing more than 5wds hit pure.

great advice!

[La Costa Golfer]

Thanks for all the feedback, I will be heading to TGW in a few days to try out several 3 woods with 15* loft (their headquarters are in Wichita).

Smaller head fairway woods generally are easier. Think of the success you have with your Taylor Made Mid Hybrid....where it has a smaller head than many other hybrids. Easier to manage. Just like how many are better able to hit a 5W vs 3W...because the head is smaller.